Horn can’t hide his disappointment over Kombosos after being informed of his compatriot’s sudden decision to serve as Pacquiao’s sparring partner.
“It would have been nice for George to ring me and say he was going over there to help Pacquiao,” Horn said
Like Horn, Kombosos is also undefeated with 12 fights to his credit since turning pro in 2013. Horn has 16 career fights with one draw. Both are orthodox fighters with exactly the same reach at 68 inches. Kombosos stands 5’9 while Horn is half an inch taller.
Pacquiao’s longtime trainer Freddie Roach has been praised for using the services of Kombosos as Pacquiao’s chief spar mate for the upcoming fight while Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton is being criticized for taking in Filipino spar mate Czar Amonsot, who does not resemble Pacquiao’s fighting style.
In terms of height, reach, speed and fighting style, Komboses bear a resemblance to Horn. With their typical attributes, Pacquiao would be able to plan his attack as he would be familiar with what Horn will bring to the table. Pacquiao is no stranger to fighting taller opponents including Antonio Margarito, Oscar de la Hoya and Jessie Vargas, among others.
While Rushton may have his own reason why he took Amonsot as Horn’s spar mate despite his contrasting fighting styles and physical attributes with Pacquiao, it appears that the decision may have been made in haste after Vasyl Lomachenko declined the offer to be Horn’s spar mate.
Noted sports writer Unofre Pili, who had watched Amonsot live in Cebu earlier in his career, said the the 31-year-old Filipino-Australian resident doesn’t have the speed and agility of Pacquiao.
“I have seen Amonsot fight live a number times in his heyday as an ALA fighter here in Cebu City, his agility overall is nowhere close to Pacquiao,” Pili said.
Seemingly, the only compelling reason for the choice of Amonsot in his preparation for the Pacquiao fight is his being a southpaw like Pacquiao. Amonsot is a brawler but he isn’t known for his foot and hand speed.
Amonsot does not have the speed of Pacquiao though he moves with significant mobility in the ring but not enough to address Pacquiao’s foot and hand speed. Read more:
Meanwhile, Pacquiao has moved from the Elorde Gym in Pasay City to his own Gym in General Santos City early this week along with chief trainer Freddie Roach and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune to continue training for the Horn fight.
